Clarification from the agency

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL), Individuals with disabilities; Federal employees in the Competitive Service on Career or Career-Conditional appointment or in the Excepted Service with Interchange Agreement; Permanent Title 38 employees employed on a full time basis; Former federal employees eligible for reinstatement;  30% Disabled Veterans, Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA), Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA), or based on completion of service in the Peace Corps.

The incumbent serves as one of three Firefighter (Paramedics) in the Fire Department, Facilities Management Service at the Togus VA Medical Center. The incumbent provides emergency medical transport and fire prevention services to ten leased facilities and approximately 50 contracted care facilities. The main hospital consists of two buildings one of which is eight stories in height. Average height of other healthcare occupancies are two to three stories. The Medical Center buildings include inpatient healthcare, outpatient clinics, offices, laboratories, retail store, restaurant, warehouse, linen storage, high voltage electrical vaults, and IT infrastructure. Other occupancies include a boiler plant, maintenance shops, motor vehicle repair area, equipment garage, kitchen, family dwellings, homeless veteran quarters, vehicle fueling area with above ground storage tanks, and generator building. The Togus VA Fire Department also provides mutual aid fire and emergency medical service to the rural communities surrounding the Togus VA Medical Center.

Major Duties AND Responsibility include, but are not limited to:

• The Firefighter (Paramedic) responds to all VA Medical Center emergencies, performs such firefighting duties as determining the nature and extent of the fire, the appropriate action required to mitigate the fire, laying and disconnecting hose lines, directing fire streams, operating firefighting equipment, ventilation of burning buildings, performing evacuations and rescues, administering appropriate emergency treatments, etc.
• Operates fire pumps, foam generators, nozzles, and other similar firefighting equipment. Determines proper pressures for the distances to be pumped and the number of hand lines to be used. Applies principles of hydraulics as they pertain to water flow and friction loss. Maintains a constant awareness of water levels in self-contained tanks and warns hand-line and rescue personnel when tanks are nearing empty.
• Performs checks, tests, and maintenance on Togus VA Fire Department vehicles and equipment.
• Responds to all structural fire alarms and medical emergencies at the Togus VA Medical Center and rural communities surrounding the Medical Center with mutual aid agreements.
• Responds to hazardous materials incidents; performs such duties as detection of the presence of hazardous materials, securing the area, identifying the hazardous material, controlling further spillage, mitigating danger to bystanders, and coordinating clean up procedures. Assists Hazardous Materials Technicians and other hazmat personnel.
• Performs radio and telephone communications; operates fire alarm systems; prepares written reports, and makes required entries in Fire Department logbook; files records on equipment, work, tests, maintenance, etc.
• Attends continuing education training to maintain knowledge of current fire and emergency medical technologies and practices. Must maintain Paramedic license, advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), basic life support (BLS), and either prehospital trauma life support (PHTLS) or internal trauma life support (ITLS) certifications.
• Drives and operates the two fire engines and other Togus VA Fire Department vehicles to the scene of the emergency following predetermined routes or selecting alternate routes when necessary. He/she positions the apparatus properly while considering such factors as wind direction, water sources, and hazards.
• Performs other necessary duties assigned by the Fire Captain or Fire Chief.

Work Schedule: Rotating shift work, 72 hours per week. The Fire Department operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Firefighter (Paramedic)/PD02676A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

-This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position.
-Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
-This position is in the Competitive Service.
-Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/22/2025.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-08. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-08 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention.

Selective Placement Factors:
The applicant must possess the following accredited certifications in National Pro Board or International Fire Service Congress (IFSAC):
- Certification as a Firefighter 1 and 2 in accordance with NFPA 1001
- Certification as Hazardous materials awareness and operations NFPA 472
- Certification as NREMT Paramedic VA Directive 1695, OR certification from State Of Maine as Paramedic
AND
- Must have a valid state driver's license

.* Newly employed VA firefighters must obtain Fire Inspector I/II in accordance with NFPA 1031 within 24 months of employment.

AGE REQUIREMENT: Title 5 U.S.C. 3307 authorizes the head of any agency to establish a maximum entry age for the original appointment of individuals to the position of Firefighter. For initial appointments, applicants cannot have reached their 37th birthday by the day of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limit noted, but who have previously served in a covered position may be eligible to re-enter the fire service if they: Meet all applicable qualifications for the position; and Will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered and creditable Federal firefighter service by the time the Federal firefighter reaches the age of 57. Prior service in covered positions and creditable towards retirement may be subtracted from the applicant's age to determine if the Federal firefighter meets the maximum entry age.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Critical Thinking
• Fire Management
• Organizational Stewardship
• Technical Competence

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Work requires the ability to perform strenuous physical activity for a long period of time, in an emergency. Activities involve prolonged period of time standing, walking, bending, crouching, and carrying heavy firefighting tools and related equipment associated with the performance of such duties as maintenance, testing, inspections, drills, suppression, and patient transport.

Work Environment:
- The work environment is varied. Work is performed indoors and outdoors, in areas where it is dirty, dusty, noisy, or greasy, outside hot and cold, inclement/bad weather, and occasionally in areas where there is danger of exposure to asbestos dust from insulation.
- Work involves exposure to fires, noxious gases from burning materials, handling of frightened persons, and other non-intrinsically safe environments. Firefighting hazards are recurring and require the use of specialized firefighting safety equipment, clothing, and procedures.

Applicants for positions that have duties of an arduous or hazardous nature must meet the medical standards described below. Since individual positions may not include all such duties a physical condition or impairment may be disqualifying for employment only if there is a direct relationship between the condition and the nature of the duties of the specific position to be filled.

Employees in positions involving firefighting duties or other duties involving arduous physical exertion may be subject to periodic (e.g. annual) medical examinations following appointment to determine fitness for continued performance of the duties of the position (see 5 CFR 339).

Any serious deviation from sound medical condition may be grounds for rejection of an applicant regardless of whether the condition is named below. Remediable defects or curable diseases will not exclude a person from consideration, but proof that such eligible register before persons otherwise qualified may be considered for appointment under civil service rules.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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